Cycle groups can see huge potential for the Blue Mountains to become a must-see cycling destination if funding is put into trail and cycle path development. Matt Padula, the secretary of the Western Sydney Mountain Bike Club, wants to see areas developed in the Mountains that have already been disturbed or are owned by council. "We've been staring at maps to look at areas in council control to have access to these to build infrastructure, to attract more tourists and provide more off-road infrastructure for the community," he said. The club is interested in developing tracks at the former Lawson golf course and the old Lawson tip site. At the old tip at the end of Ridge St, Mr Padula can envisage building a 6km cross country race track, where the club could hold events. "These kind of areas where the bush has been disturbed before, we can help to regenerate it," he said. He's keen to work with council to seek grants to develop areas across the Mountains. He'd like to see Glenbrook Tunnel, a disused railway tunnel owned by the state government, be opened up to the public. This would enable the club to hold races at Knapsack Reserve, including downhill and enduro events, using the tunnel to return to the start. For road cyclists, the opening of the tunnel could provide a connection between Glenbrook, Lapstone, Leonay and Emu Plains, without having to run the gauntlet of Lapstone Hill. "It comes back to having our members have access to safe infrastructure to commute and train," Mr Padula said. "There's nothing like training on the road [for a mountain bike rider] to build strength, power and endurance." A trail from Lithgow to Glenbrook, linking all the Mountains villages could also be a money-spinner for Mountains businesses, Mr Padula said. He'll be keen to push for the development of cycle trails at an upcoming cycling forum being organised by Blue Mountains Council. Mayor Mark Greenhill raised the idea of a forum at the August 27 council meeting, which was supported by all councillors. David Tritton from the Blue Mountains Cycling Safety Forum is also looking forward to being involved in the forum. "It's an opportunity to look at the 2020 bike plan and see how it's progressed and see if it has the potential to deliver potential cycling activities across the Mountains," he said. "It's about coming up with the right plan and coming up with decent grants to fund the plan." He'd like to see a network of shared pathways developed like what's planned in Wagga Wagga. A 51km network of bike paths has attracted $11 million in state government funding and almost $1.5 million from the Wagga City Council.

Cycling forum to hear big ideas for the Blue Mountains

Cycle groups can see huge potential for the Blue Mountains to become a must-see cycling destination if funding is put into trail and cycle path development.

Cycling forum to hear big ideas for the Blue Mountains

Matt Padula, the secretary of the Western Sydney Mountain Bike Club, can see the potential in developing trails and cycle paths across the Blue Mountains, including reopening Glenbrook Tunnel. Photo: Ben Sykes

Matt Padula, the secretary of the Western Sydney Mountain Bike Club, wants to see areas developed in the Mountains that have already been disturbed or are owned by council.

"We've been staring at maps to look at areas in council control to have access to these to build infrastructure, to attract more tourists and provide more off-road infrastructure for the community," he said.

The club is interested in developing tracks at the former Lawson golf course and the old Lawson tip site.

At the old tip at the end of Ridge St, Mr Padula can envisage building a 6km cross country race track, where the club could hold events.

"These kind of areas where the bush has been disturbed before, we can help to regenerate it," he said.

He's keen to work with council to seek grants to develop areas across the Mountains.

He'd like to see Glenbrook Tunnel, a disused railway tunnel owned by the state government, be opened up to the public.

This would enable the club to hold races at Knapsack Reserve, including downhill and enduro events, using the tunnel to return to the start.

For road cyclists, the opening of the tunnel could provide a connection between Glenbrook, Lapstone, Leonay and Emu Plains, without having to run the gauntlet of Lapstone Hill.

"It comes back to having our members have access to safe infrastructure to commute and train," Mr Padula said.

"There's nothing like training on the road [for a mountain bike rider] to build strength, power and endurance."

A trail from Lithgow to Glenbrook, linking all the Mountains villages could also be a money-spinner for Mountains businesses, Mr Padula said.

He'll be keen to push for the development of cycle trails at an upcoming cycling forum being organised by Blue Mountains Council.

Mayor Mark Greenhill raised the idea of a forum at the August 27 council meeting, which was supported by all councillors.

David Tritton from the Blue Mountains Cycling Safety Forum is also looking forward to being involved in the forum.

"It's an opportunity to look at the 2020 bike plan and see how it's progressed and see if it has the potential to deliver potential cycling activities across the Mountains," he said.

"It's about coming up with the right plan and coming up with decent grants to fund the plan."

He'd like to see a network of shared pathways developed like what's planned in Wagga Wagga. A 51km network of bike paths has attracted $11 million in state government funding and almost $1.5 million from the Wagga City Council.